Blurpee69

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Jan 7, 2023
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Game is called "Our Red String" but I still haven't seen any red strings.

Explain this.
The title is a reference to the Red String of Fate, an ancient Chinese or Japanese (I don't remember which) belief that people who are destined to find love and marry each other are bound by an invisible red cord. The cord can become tangled and bind with other cords, but will never break, so these cords can create a great web of fate at times. Hence why all these characters lives are interconnected and they seemingly keep running into each other even when they don't plan too.

We're seeing a snapshot of Lena and Ian's lives. Perhaps they have a red cord that binds them, or perhaps their red cords just got tangled with each other the night they met in that ally. How we play them will likely determine that, but for now they are bound by fate to at least be near each other.
 

Hungover00

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Apr 29, 2023
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The title is a reference to the Red String of Fate, an ancient Chinese or Japanese (I don't remember which) belief that people who are destined to find love and marry each other are bound by an invisible red cord. The cord can become tangled and bind with other cords, but will never break, so these cords can create a great web of fate at times. Hence why all these characters lives are interconnected and they seemingly keep running into each other even when they don't plan too.

We're seeing a snapshot of Lena and Ian's lives. Perhaps they have a red cord that binds them, or perhaps their red cords just got tangled with each other the night they met in that ally. How we play them will likely determine that, but for now they are bound by fate to at least be near each other.
(thought I'd heard this theory before, but couldn't recall/wasn't familiar with the source)

Does EK state that ever? Or is it the community consensus?
 

redoubt27

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Mar 6, 2024
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(thought I'd heard this theory before, but couldn't recall/wasn't familiar with the source)

Does EK state that ever? Or is it the community consensus?
It's alluded to in the story prologue... and throughout the story.
Do you believe in destiny?
Do we keep meeting by coincidence or is it fate?
 
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Maviarab

I will have the penne all'arrabiata
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Jul 12, 2020
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Game is called "Our Red String" but I still haven't seen any red strings.

Explain this.
The Red String Theory, a belief from East Asian mythology, believes that people who are destined to be present in each other’s lives are connected by a red string, and life will bring them to meet again despite time, circumstance, or distance. Some people call it a coincidence and say that the world is small, but one can’t help but think that we’re all connected.
 

Blurpee69

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Jan 7, 2023
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(thought I'd heard this theory before, but couldn't recall/wasn't familiar with the source)

Does EK state that ever? Or is it the community consensus?
I have posted on the Red Thread of Fate before in this forum thread. EK has never directly said it was the case to my knowledge. I don't even know if it's a community consensus, because we so rarely discuss the title or the Red thread theory.

But as redoubt27 said, it's strongly alluded too throughout the story with the characters often referencing fate or coincidence of running into each other. It is also a cheeky way to respond to complaints about, specifically in the earlier days of the game, why the cast is so small and keeps running into each other. Funny that just a page back people complaining about the size of the cast in the opposite way.
 

Hungover00

Engaged Member
Apr 29, 2023
2,547
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It's alluded to in the story prologue... and throughout the story.
Do you believe in destiny?
Do we keep meeting by coincidence or is it fate?
The Red String Theory, a belief from East Asian mythology, believes that people who are destined to be present in each other’s lives are connected by a red string, and life will bring them to meet again despite time, circumstance, or distance. Some people call it a coincidence and say that the world is small, but I can’t help but think that we’re all connected.
Just replayed the prologue, and yes the idea of fate is hinted at, but nothing specific towards the red thread of fate.

Even if that is the basis, it seems either random or appropriative, as nothing else in the story points to a Chinese or Japanese connection or mythology. If it is the source of the title, it kind of feels like it was taken from a thesaurus for fate, kismet, destiny, etc. Which feels a bit thin.
 
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Gicoo

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Feb 18, 2018
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Red string is a common phrase in my language, usually pointing to the most central and important aspect of something. So I didn't gave the title a second glance.

Generally, the red string in literature is the

(figurative) thread, common thread, golden thread, central theme, throughline or clear structure


Just as the game has Ian and Lena and their turbulent, intertwined lives as the focus.
 

Hungover00

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Apr 29, 2023
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I have posted on the Red Thread of Fate before in this forum thread. EK has never directly said it was the case to my knowledge. I don't even know if it's a community consensus, because we so rarely discuss the title or the Red thread theory.

But as redoubt27 said, it's strongly alluded too throughout the story with the characters often referencing fate or coincidence of running into each other. It is also a cheeky way to respond to complaints about, specifically in the earlier days of the game, why the cast is so small and keeps running into each other. Funny that just a page back people complaining about the size of the cast in the opposite way.
I can definitely see it being a thread that ties the characters and stories together in a skein that becomes the warp and weft of their lives in this 6+ month period of their lives. The connection to a particular East-Asian mythos when there is only one character that seems of Asian descent in the whole game, and he's a random club rat and minor character from GGGB, seems like a stretch, or a weird choice.

But, it's cool to hear the discussions and history of them, especially that EK hasn't weighed in with a 'voice of god' moment. I don't know EK's biography, but I thought they were from Europe, maybe Spain or Portugal? But I'm basing that off of echoes of a perhaps memory.

Red string is a common phrase in my language, usually pointing to the most central and important aspect of something. So I didn't gave the title a second glance.

Generally, the red string in literature is the





Just as the game has Ian and Lena and their turbulent, intertwined lives as the focus.
Oh, that's kind of cool. Multi-faceted interpretations make it a bit more interesting to me. I'm still leaning towards lust or passion, especially since there are lust points in game, but a sort of fated lust Gordian Knot fits the story very well, with how many playthroughs and combinations are possible.

Alternate title possibilities: The Gordian Sploosh, The Dripping Red Knot, The Fuck Weaving, heheh
 

Blurpee69

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Jan 7, 2023
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I can definitely see it being a thread that ties the characters and stories together in a skein that becomes the warp and weft of their lives in this 6+ month period of their lives. The connection to a particular East-Asian mythos when there is only one character that seems of Asian descent in the whole game, and he's a random club rat and minor character from GGGB, seems like a stretch, or a weird choice.

But, it's cool to hear the discussions and history of them, especially that EK hasn't weighed in with a 'voice of god' moment. I don't know EK's biography, but I thought they were from Europe, maybe Spain or Portugal? But I'm basing that off of echoes of a perhaps memory.


Oh, that's kind of cool. Multi-faceted interpretations make it a bit more interesting to me. I'm still leaning towards lust or passion, especially since there are lust points in game, but a sort of fated lust Gordian Knot fits the story very well, with how many playthroughs and combinations are possible.
I think you're putting a little too much emphasis on it Asian origin, no offense. I wouldn't necessarily call it appropriation either. When I made that post originally, I was pulling specifically from my knowledge base and experiences, but obviously it can be applied to many cultures and languages based on other members responses.
 

Hungover00

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Apr 29, 2023
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I think you're putting a little too much emphasis on it Asian origin, no offense. I wouldn't necessarily call it appropriation either. When I made that post originally, I was pulling specifically from my knowledge base and experiences, but obviously it can be applied to many cultures and languages based on other members responses.
Ah, fair enough. I was just pushing back against the impression (incorrect, it seems) that ORS = Red Fated Thread was the answer to the title mystery, which felt like a stretch without more evidence. But, the general conclusion that this is a crucial and perhaps/likely fated time in the protagonists lives seems likely.

Opening the game again, it starts in the first week of April, and we're nearing the end of August. We'll definitely cover all/most of September, but I could see October being when everything is locked in, if we get there before an epilogue skip hits. So it very much is a 'summer of love' type story, just with a larger than definition summer. And as much griping and complaining we all may do in this forum, it's one of the most compelling and well made AVNs out there, and will be a standard others are held to going forward. Which is a hell of an accomplishment.
 

redoubt27

Member
Mar 6, 2024
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obviously it can be applied to many cultures and languages based on other members responses.
String, thread, fabric, weaving, etc. relative to fate and destiny are common themes or metaphors in literature, sayings, expressions across many different cultures.

A more modern reference, the movie Wanted, with Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie, an assassin organization uses a loom to determine who needs killin'... :LOL:
Red is commonly associated with love, passion.
The main overview mentions the reader threading their Red String.
The general references, connections to other literary themes/stories seemed apparent and likewise felt no need to further investigate the specific origin or source of inspiration.

Similarly, when I said alluded to, was referring to the general concepts of fate, destiny, related to strings and threads.
I certainly wasn't referring to a specific cultural origin...:LOL:
Sorry for any confusion.
 
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